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Representing the 9th District of Florida

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Transportation & Infrastructure

Darren will continue his longtime advocacy for greater infrastructure investment in our District.

First and foremost, he is engaging in critical oversight to help keep the I-4 Ultimate improvements on budget and on time, with an expected completion date of 2022. An expansion of Central Florida's main highway is long overdue and is critical to our future growth.

Second, he is closely monitoring SunRail Phase 2 which is set to open in early 2018 and will serve Meadow Woods, Buenaventura Lakes, Downtown Kissimmee and Poinciana. He is pushing for funding for SunRail Phase 3 to connect SunRail to Orlando International Airport.

Our vision is clear: with these projects, Central Floridians will finally have both rail and car options for their daily commute, and we will alleviate congestion on I-4!

Third, Darren will pursue a new control tower for the Kissimmee airport and a runway extension at Lake Wales along with local officials to continue to foster growth in these communities.

Fourth, Darren is fighting to fully fund and provide regulatory support to the multimodal center at Orlando International Airport which will serve as an international terminal, SunRail Station and Brightline Station.

Under this vision, one day soon, Central Floridians will be able to hop on at any SunRail Station, and take a plane for Orlando International anywhere or high speed train to West Palm Beach, Ft Lauderdale, or Miami.

Fifth, Darren will continue to work with local and state leaders to bring new transportation options to Polk County, including the Central Polk Parkway or other alternatives. We must have additional transportation options beyond US 27 and US 17-92 to keep our community moving forward!

Finally, Darren supports the further development of Florida's ports in neighboring coastal areas to increase our export capacity for agricultural and manufactured products.

Selected bills on transportation and infrastructure co-sponsored by Congressman Soto:

H.R.233 - Safe Freight Act of 2017 - this bill prohibits the operation of a freight train or light locomotive engine used in the movement of freight unless it has a crew of at least two individuals, one of whom is certified by the Federal Rail Administration as a locomotive operator and the other as a train conductor.

More on Transportation & Infrastructure

Three Central Florida Democrats in Congress--U.S. Reps. Val Demings, Stephanie Murphy and Darren Soto--announced on Thursday that the U.S. Department of Transportation is sending $16 million to extend SunRail.

Representatives Darren Soto, Stephanie Murphy and Val Demings announced today the Central Florida Commuter Rail, known as SunRail, is receiving a $16 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to complete the Phase 2 South Project, which will extend SunRail services from the existing railroad south of Orlando through Kissimmee and Poinciana in Osceola County.

According to a release from the office of U.S. Rep. Darren Soto, D-Kissimmee, the Winter Haven Regional Airport will receive nearly $2.5 million in discretionary grant funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The funding will go toward runway rehabilitation and runway lighting.

“It’s a great project,” Airport Manager Alex Vacha said. “It’s been several years since anything had been done.”

U.S. Congressman Darren Soto (FL-09) announced today that Winter Haven Municipal Airport Gilbert Field (GIF) in Polk County is the recipient of a $2,493,952 discretionary grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to install runway lighting and rehabilitate the runway infrastructure.

On Wednesday, February 21st, Congressman Darren Soto attended the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority Board Meeting to share his opposition to privatizing Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Board members and attendees also spoke about the need to decrease wait times at the Orlando International Airport while ensuring passenger safety and security.

Washington, D.C. –Today, Congressman Darren Soto introduced the “AI Jobs Act of 2018,” legislation that will authorize the Department of Labor to work with businesses and educational institutions to create a report analyzing the future growth of artificial intelligence and its impact on American workforce.

Kissimmee, Florida – Congressman Darren Soto announced today that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has approved phase II of the All Aboard Florida (AAF)/Brightline project, a high-speed rail service that would run from Orlando to Miami, Florida’s largest business and tourism hubs.

Kissimmee, Florida – U.S. Representative Darren Soto released the following statement after announcements by the Government of Puerto Rico to cancel the contract with Whitefish Energy, the firm controversially chosen to repair the island’s hurricane-ravaged electrical grid.

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Darren Soto authored a letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior requesting an investigation into the $300 million contract awarded to Montana firm Whitefish Energy to repair Puerto Rico’s electrical infrastructure. The letter was supported by seven additional Members of Congress, calling into question Whitefish’s inexperience and ties to the Trump Administration.